Leinster make eight changes for crucial Bath fixture

Leinster have made eight personnel changes and two positional changes from the team that faced Wasps last weekend in the RDS Arena - for their visit to the Recreation Ground on Saturday to play Bath.

Isa Nacewa returns from injury to captain Leinster from full-back, with Dave Kearney on the left wing and Fergus McFadden moving from outside centre to the back three.

Surprisingly South Africa international Zane Kirchner drops to the bench, having had little opportunity in last weekend’s record European defeat for the province.

Ben Te'o and Luke Fitzgerald, who both missed the defeat to Wasps, return to start together in midfield for the second time this season.

There is also a change in Leinster's half-back pairing as Isaac Boss comes in to replace Eoin Reddan at scrum-half. Johnny Sexton starts once again in the number 10 jersey.

Cian Healy and Sean Cronin come in for Jack McGrath and Richardt Strauss, respectively, in the front row. Mike Ross is Leinster's starting tighthead for the third game in succession.

Hayden Triggs will start in a European fixture for the first time, alongside Devin Toner in the second row.

In the back row, with Sean O'Brien ruled out, Rhys Ruddock comes in to start at blindside with Jordi Murpy shifting to openside. Jamie Heaslip starts at number eight.

LEINSTER: Isa Nacewa (Captain); Fergus McFadden, Ben Te’o, Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney; Johnny Sexton, Isaac Boss; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Hayden Triggs; Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Dominic Ryan, Josh Van Der Flier, Luke McGrath, Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner.